Impact of Porous Media Grain Size on the Transport of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Nanomaterials possess unique physical, electrical and chemical properties which make them attractive for use in a wide range of applications. Through their use and eventual disposal, nanomaterials may ultimately be released into the subsurface environment and previous studies show that nanomaterials may pose a hazard to health. This study investigates the mobility of one important nanomaterial (multi-walled carbon nanotubes or MWNTs) through porous media. Particular focus is placed on the impact of varying mean collector grain size on MWNT retention. Results from one dimensional column experiments conducted under various physical and chemical conditions coupled with results of numerical modeling assess the suitability of traditional transport models to predict MWNT mobility. MWNTs were found to be mobile though porous media ranging from fine sand to silt. Findings suggest that a dual deposition model coupled with site blocking greatly improves model fits compared to traditional colloid filtration theory.

Name thesis:degree_name

MES

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Mattison, Nikolai Troy

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• O’Carroll, Denis

• multi-walled carbon nanotubes
• MWNT
• site blocking
• grain size
• dual deposition
• mobility
• subsurface
• nanomaterial

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/18384

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/18384